For that reason, in the early days, the Australian Championships were not well-attended by players outside of Australia and, at times, or even by their own players.

But as the world grew smaller, the importance of this colorful slam down under grew until now it ranks up there with the other three, receiving the attention from the players and the media the Australian Open so richly deserves.

This year as the 2011 Australian Open gets underway, the world is focused on many fascinating tennis stories.

For example, the women will be looking to crown a new champion with the absence of last year’s winner and former World No. 1 Serena Williams.

On the men’s side, the questions center on whether Rafael Nadal will be able to complete his “Rafa Slam,” winning the Australian Open––owning all four major titles at one time.

No one has accomplished that since Aussie Rod Laver completed his own grand slam in 1969.

There is also much speculation wondering if Roger Federer, who is the defending champion, can win career grand slam title No. 17.

It would also give Federer five Australian Open Championships, which has not happened in the Open Era of men’s tennis.

Such a win would surely boost Federer higher on the list of the 20 all-time greatest Australian Open Champions.

No. 20 Boris Becker (Won 1991 and 1996) – 2 Finals, 2 Wins

Boris Becker won the Australian Open Championship twice.

Boris Becker is best known for winning the Wimbledon Championship at age 17 as an unseeded player.

Totally, Becker won six career grand slam titles, his final one coming in Melbourne.

The big German won the Australian Open first in 1991, defeating Ivan Lendl 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

It marked the last time the former World No. 1 Lendl made a major final in his career. It also gave Becker the No. 1 ranking.

Becker won the Australian Open title again in 1996 defeating American Michael Chang in the final 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

This proved to be Becker’s last appearance in a slam final.

In total Becker played in 11 Australian Open Championships winning two.

His total win-loss record was 29-9 giving him a winning percentage for the Australian Open of 76.3.

No. 19. Ashley Cooper (Won 1957 and 1958) – 2 Finals, 2 Wins

Ashley Cooper also won the Australian Open twice.

Like many of the great champions on this list, Ashley Cooper was an Aussie.

This former World No. 1 tennis player was born in Melbourne.

1958 was a stand out year for Cooper.

That year Cooper won three of the four major championships. He remains only one of ten men to accomplish that feat.

Cooper began the year winning the Australian Open. In 1958 he went on to capture Wimbledon and the U.S. Open Championship.

Unfortunately, Cooper lost in the finals of the French.

His opponent in the finals of the 1958 Australian Open was Malcolm Anderson. Cooper won that match 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

It was the Aussie’s second consecutive win at the Australian Open.

Cooper had captured the title first in 1957 against fellow Aussie Neale Fraser 6-3, 9-11, 6-4, 6-2.

No. 18 Johan Kriek (Won 1981 and 1982) – 2 Finals, 2 Wins

Johan Kriek won the Australian back to back in 1980-1981.

Johan Kriek was born in South Africa in 1958, moving to the United States where he developed his tennis prowess.

During his career Kriek won 14 singles titles and eight titles in doubles. His only two slam trophies, however, were captured in Australia.

His greatest triumph was winning back-to-back titles at the Australian Open in 1981 and 1982 defeating American Steve Denton both times.

During those years, of course, the tournament was still being played on grass.

Argentine Vilas appeared in three Australian Open finals, winning twice.

Argentine Guillermo Vilas, who owned four career grand slam titles, enjoyed the Australian grass, winning two titles there. He could never adapt, however, to the lawns at Wimbledon. That title always eluded him.

Vilas won his first Australian Open Championship in 1978, defeating Australian John Marks in the final 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

It gave Vilas his third career grand slam title.

The following year, Vilas repeated this feat capturing his second consecutive Australian Open title this time by defeating American John Sadri 7-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In 1977, when the Australian Open was played twice––once in January and once in December––Vilas played in the January tournament. The Argentine lost in the final. He was the runner-up to American Roscoe Tanner who won 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

In all Vilas appeared in five Australian Open Championships, winning two, with an overall record of 23-3.

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